[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

I've been very busy he last week or two, and couldn't fit in time to write up a preview last night (or this afternoon) for tonight's game, so I'll have to leave you with some sources instead of missing it completely like I did a few times in October.

I'll try for the Panthers game tomorrow night though.

Sorry 'bout that:

Kaberle looks to continue surge in Tampa

Sports Ticker

11/1/2006 11:54:22 AM

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Although he is not known for his offensive production, defenceman Tomas Kaberle has provided a recent spark for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kaberle hopes to continue his roll tonight when the Maple Leafs go for their third straight victory in the first of four encounters with the Tampa Bay Lightning, live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt.

After failing to score a goal in his first 10 games, Kaberle became just the sixth blueliner in franchise history and first since Borje Salming in 1981 to record a hat trick last Saturday against Montreal.

TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader

Stats from TSN

Maple Leafs-Lightning Preview

Through the first month of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been hampered by inconsistency. The same can be said of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Maple Leafs look to run their first winning streak of the season to three games when they open a three-game road trip against the Lightning on Wednesday.

Darcy Tucker scored two of his team's three power-play goals during an 86-second span of the first period in a 4-2 victory over visiting Atlanta on Monday, giving Toronto back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

"It was not our best and we got away with it," Tucker said after the Leafs were held to a season-low 22 shots. "We battled but we did not play the way we wanted to. We need to be better and to do that we have to skate more."

NHL.com - Scores

 

[Amanda]

That 3rd period was just horrid!!!! When they killed off that 4 min penalty I thought Tampa's penalty killed would at least improve since they are in dead last for it in the NHL.
And like what the commentators said on TSN Tampa mid as well have scored on their own net after the first goal. I think it was Sarich who knocked into Denis and didn't look like he put any effort into getting up.
I am at least happy with how Lecavalier has been playing a goal in the last 5 games, I just hope he doesn't kick into his inconsitancy and not have a goal in the next 7 games.
And Richards finally got another goal.

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

Nice comeback by Toronto in the 3rd. Gill got his 100th career point, and Kaberle his 300th.

I didn't like Antropov on the top line, but since Maurice is behind this and not Quinn, I'll wait and see what will happen... again. He was decent, but out of place. I don't know if that was due to him losing even more of a step, or just rust after returning from injury... again. He's tricky to figure out.

Stajan, O'Neill, and Steen were good on a line together. I didn't like it that Antro was in Welly's spot on the top line, but he and Tucker were still playing well with Peca.

Raycroft was solid yet again. I don't blame those 2 games vs. the Sens on him at all. The team played horribly in front of him. Glad to see he's doing well again.

That's 3 in a row for the Leafs. Good to see Lecavalier didn't do more damage than he could have. The Leafs were playing very dangerously in their own end, and were handling the puck terribly when leaving the zone.